>>> IN A LAND OF MIGHTY RIVERS, LAZY BAYOUS, WOODLANDS, WETLANDS, AND UNDERWATER GARDENS , THE BOUNTY OF NATURE COMES ALIVE IN AMERICA'S DELTA.

>> THIS IS A STORY ABOUT THE PRICE OF PROGRESS.

THE CHALLENGES OF MIMICKING THE MYSTERIES OF THE NATURAL WORLD AND THE VALUE OF COMMITMENT TO A CAUSE GREATER THAN MOST.

THE SURVIVAL OF A SPECIES.

IT'S A STORY OF LOSS AND RECOVERY.

BUT MOST OF ALL, IT'S A CELEBRATION OF HOPE THAT IS BORN OF NEW BEGINNINGS, AND THE MAJESTIC RETURN OF THE WHOOPING CRANE.

>> THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES.

KEEPING OUR WILDLIFE RESOURCES HEALTHY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

WILDLIFE MATTERS.

AND BY THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

>> MY HEART JUST BEAT FAST.

JUST BEAT FAST.

JUST EVERYBODY WAS SMILING FROM EAR TO EAR, AND IT, AND IT'S AN EXPERIENCE THAT, THAT I CAN'T ADEQUATELY DESCRIBE BECAUSE IT WAS SO WONDERFUL TO HAVE THEM BACK.

>> IN 2012, A GROUP OF YOUNG WHOOPING CRANES, ONE OF THE MOST MAJESTIC AND ENDANGERED SPECIES, WAS PAINSTAKINGLY TRANSPORTED TO THIS REMOTE PATCH OF MARSHLAND IN WESTERN LOUISIANA.

THIS COMPLEX OPERATION WAS PART OF AN INTENSIVE INTERNATIONAL RESCUE EFFORT TO ENSURE THE SURVIVAL OF THESE STRIKING CREATURES.

THEY HAVE SOARED ABOVE THE EARTH FOR 60 MILLION YEARS, BUT BY THE EARLY 1940s, ONLY 21 ADULT BIRDS SEPARATED THE SPECIES FROM EXTINCTION.

OF THE MORE THAN 400 WHOOPING CRANES THAT EXIST IN THE WILD TODAY, A SMALL, BUT GROWING NUMBER ARE TRYING TO MAKE A COMEBACK IN THE COASTAL WETLANDS THEIR ANCESTORS ONCE CALLED HOME WITH A HEIGHT UP TO FIVE FEET, THE WHOOPING CRANE IS THE TALLEST BIRD IN NORTH AMERICA.

ON THE GROUND, AN ADULT CRAIN'S TORSO APPEARS ALL WHITE, BUT IN FLIGHT, THE 7.5 TO 8-FOOT WING SPAN IS TIPPED IN BLACK.

DISTINCTIVE RED CROWNS CAP THEIR HEADS, AND LIKE OTHER WADING BIRDS, THEY EXPLORE THEIR WORLD WITH A LONG, DAGGER-LIKE BEAK.

>> THE WHOOPING CRANES ARE FORMIDABLE.

WHEN YOU WALK UP TO A WHOOPING CRANE, THEY ARE FIVE FEET TALL, SO THEY ARE STANDING FACE-TO-FACE, AND THEIR BEAK IS MASSIVE.

>> BUT IT IS THEIR CALL WHICH IS MOST RECOGNIZABLE.

THE WHOOPING SOUND FOR WHICH THEY ARE NAMED.

>> THEIR CALLS ARE UNMISTAKABLE, THEY ARE LOUD AND CAN BE HEARD FROM A MILE AWAY, THEY WILL CALL EARLY IN THE MORNING, AND THEY WILL CALL TO IDENTIFY THEIR TERRITORY, AND A BONDED PAIR OF CRANES WILL PERFORM AN IMPRESSIVE UNISON CALL AND DANCE THAT'S PART OF THEIR BREEDING COURTSHIP BEHAVIOR.

>> HISTORICALLY, MIGRATORY FLOCKS TRAVEL THOUSANDS OF MILES A YEAR FROM NORTHERN CANADA, AS FAR AS TEXAS, MEXICO, AND FLORIDA, AND THEN BACK AGAIN.

BUT SINCE THE START OF THE 20th CENTURY, MASSIVE CHANGES TO THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE MEANT A DANGEROUS DECLINE FOR THE WHOOPING CRANE.

MUCH OF THE CRAIN'S PRAIRIE GRASSLAND HABITAT WAS TRANSFORMED FOR AGRICULTURAL USE.

>> AFTER THE RAILROAD BROKE ACROSS THE ATCHAFALAYA RIVER, HEADING WEST, THERE BECAME MORE SETTLEMENTS AND FARMS, AND THE HABITAT ALTERATION WAS A BIG BLOW TO THE WHOOPING CRANES THAT EXISTED IN LOUISIANA.

>> AND LIKE MOST OF AMERICA'S OTHER BIRDS, AND WATERFOWL, THEY WERE ALSO HUNTED.

>> PEOPLE LIVED OFF THE LAND AND THEY DID SHOOT THEM AND EAT THEM.

>> ULTIMATELY, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DECLINE OF THIS SPECIES.

IT WAS HUMAN ACTIONS THAT ALTERED THE HABITAT, AND SHOT THE CRANES, SO WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING THEM BACK.

>> IN THE EARLY 1800s, LOUISIANA HAD THE LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF WHOOPING CRANES IN THE COUNTRY.

BECAUSE OF ITS VAST WETLAND SYSTEM, AND TEMPERATE TO TROPICAL CLIMATE, LOUISIANA HAD BEEN HOME TO BOTH MIGRATORY AND NON MIGRATORY GROUPS OF WHOOPING CRANES.

BUT BY THE 1940s, LOUISIANA'S CRANES HAD DECLINED TO ONLY 13 INDIVIDUALS.

ONE STORM ALL BUT WIPED OUT THAT FLOCK.

ONE OF THE LAST FEW WORDS WAS FOUND INJURED IN EVANGELINE PARISH, BUT TO DO WITH HER?

>> WHEN SOMEONE CAPTURES A BIRD THAT THAT'S RARE, YOU, OF COURSE, GO TO THE AUTHORITIES AND SAY, WHAT DO I DO WITH THIS BIRD?

THE CLOSEST ZOO WAS THE AUDUBON PARK ZOO, SO THEY DECIDED TO PUT HER THERE.

>> AFFECTIONATELY NAMED JOSEPHINE, SHE SPARKED THE PUBLIC'S IMAGINATION AND INSPIRED A LIFELONG DEDICATION TO THE BIRDS FOR MANY OF THE TIME.

INCLUDING MARY LYNCH COURVILLE.

>> JOSEPHINE IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST RENOWNED CRANES IN THE WORLD BECAUSE SHE WAS THE FIRST CAPTIVE CRAIN TO, ACTUALLY, LAY WITHIN THAT CAPTIVE AREA, AND HATCH CHICKS.

>> HER CELEBRITY LASTED 24 YEARS, BUT SADLY, OF HER HATCHLINGS, THAT REACHED ADULTHOOD, NONE SURVIVED TO REPRODUCE.

THAT BROUGHT AN END TO THE GENETIC LINE FOR LOUISIANA'S WHOOPING CRANES.

>> MEANWHILE, IN TEXAS, THE LAST RECOMMEND PLANTS OF A SMALL, WILD FLOCK KNOWN AS THE ARANSAS, WOOD BUFFALO WHOOPING CRANES, STRUGGLED TO SURVIVE.

THEY WERE NAMED AFTER THEIR MIGRATION ROUTE, A 2,500-MILE FLIGHT FROM SOUTHEAST TEXAS TO THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES IN CANADA.

>> THIS PARTICULAR FLOCK OF WHOOPING CRANES, HAS BEEN COMING TO, TO ARANSAS FOR, WHO KNOWS HOW MANY GENERATIONS.

BUT, WHAT WE DO KNOW ABOUT THE FLOCK IS THAT IT GOT DOWN TO, TO ABOUT 15 BIRDS, IN THE EARLY 1940s.

>> GROUPS LIKE THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY, HELP TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT HOW CLOSE THE SPECIES WAS TO EXTINCTION.

SCIENTISTS KNEW THAT THEY WERE IN A RACE AGAINST TIME TO FIND WAYS TO SAVE THE BIRDS.

>> ONE OF OUR GREATEST FIERCE HAS BEEN THAT, THAT A CATASTROPHIC EVENT MAY HAPPEN, LIKE AN OIL SPILL, HAILSTORMS, THOSE FREQUENT WEATHER EVENTS, LATE SEASON HURRICANES AND THE FACT THAT THEY DO WINTER IN A RELATIVELY LIMITED GEOGRAPHIC AREA HERE ON THE TEXAS COAST, MAKES THE POPULATION SUSCEPTIBLE TO THOSE CATASTROPHIC EVENTS SUCH THAT IF AN EVENT LIKE THAT WOULD HAPPEN, IT MAY VERY WELL WIPE OUT THE FLOCK FOREVER.

>> AS THE ARANSAS WOOD BUFFALO WHOOPING CRANES BEGAN REGAINING THEIR NUMBERS, U.S. AND CANADIAN BIOLOGISTS LOOK FOR OTHER WAYS TO ENSURE THE SURVIVAL OF THE SPECIES.

THEY COLLABORATED TO COLLECT EGGS FROM THE WILD FLOCK, AND BEGAN THE DIFFICULT WORK OF CREATING A CAPTIVE FLOCK BREEDING PROGRAM.

THERE WAS MUCH TO BE LEARNED ABOUT THE BEHAVIOR AND BIOLOGY OF THE WHOOPING CRANE.

>> CRANES ARE MONOGAMOUS BIRDS, AND THE SEXUALLY -- AND THE FEMALE WILL NOT COME INTO BREEDING CONDITIONS, NOR WILL THE MALE UNLESS HE HAS A PROPER RELATIONSHIP WITH A MATE.

>> GEORGE ARCHIBALD IS THE LEADING EXPERT ON CRANES.

HE DEVELOPED MANY OF THE BREEDING AND REARING TECHNIQUES TUESDAY TODAY.

IN 1976 HE BEGAN WORKING WITH TEX, A FEMALE CRAIN THAT, FOR TEN YEARS, RESEARCHER HAD UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO MATE WITH A MALE CRAIN.

>> BUT SHE WAS NOT INTERESTED IN CRANES, SHE WAS INTERESTED IN HUMANS.

SHE WAS IMPRINTED ON HUMANS.

SO I VOLUNTEERED TO WORK WITH HER, AND I WOULD GO AND DANCE WITH HER, AND FOLLOW HER AROUND WHEN SHE WANTED ME TO.

>> ARCHIBALD'S WOOING FINALLY PAID OFF.

TEX GOT IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE.

>> AND THROUGH ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION WE PRODUCED A CHICK IN 1982, WE CALLED HIM GEE WHIZ, THE GENES HAVE CONTINUED IN GEE WHIZ.

SHE WAS 30 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR, HE'S PRODUCED MANY, MANY CHICKS, AND THERE ARE GENERATIONS OF HIS TEXAS OFFSPRING, ALIVE AND WILD IN THE NEW POPULATIONS, IN WISCONSIN AND IN FLORIDA AND LOUISIANA.

>> TODAY, SUCCESSFUL CAPTIVE BREEDING AND REARING PROGRAMS OPERATE AT THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY'S PATUXENT WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTER IN MARYLAND, AND AT THE INTERNATIONAL CRAIN FOUNDATION, CO-FOUNDED BY GEORGE ARCHIBALD, AND HEADQUARTERED IN BARABOO, WISCONSIN.

HERE IN PATUXENT, EGGS ARE CAREFULLY INCUBATED AND HATCHED.

YOUNG CHICKS ARE REARED FOR THEIR RETURN TO THE WILD IN A PROCESS THAT IS BOTH PAINSTAKING AND PECULIAR.

FROM THE TIME THE CHICKS HATCH, THEY ARE GREETED BY A STRANGELY COSTUMED SURROGATE PARENT.

>> THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE COSTUME IS TO DISGUISE THE FACT THAT WE'RE PEOPLE UNDERNEATH THE COSTUME.

WE THINK THAT THE BEST CHANCES FOR THE BIRDS TO SUCCEED IN THE WILD IS TO NOT BE COMFORTABLE AND NOT BE USED TO BEING AROUND PEOPLE.

SO THEY DON'T SEE US, AND WE DON'T SPEAK AROUND THE BIRDS, AND WE USE THIS PUPPET HEAD TO TEACH THEM TO EAT AND DRINK AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO FOLLOW US.

>> A WHOOPING CRANE CHICKS GROW VERY QUICKLY.

THEY GROW APPROXIMATELY AN INCH A DAY, SO EXERCISE IS VERY CRUCIAL, ESPECIALLY IN THE EARLY STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT.

WHEN THEIR BIRDS ARE QUITE YOUNG, THEY WILL PUT THEM IN A LARGE ABOVE GROUND POOL, AND THE CHICKS WILL SWIM AROUND, AND MIMICKING NATURAL BEHAVIOR, THAT THE CHICKS IN THE WILD, OF COURSE, ARE HAVING TO SWIM IN THE WETLANDS IN ORDER TO FOLLOW THEIR PARENTS.

>> BUT SURROGATE PARENTS DO MORE THAN SHOW THE CRANES HOW TO SWIM OR HOW AND WHAT TO EAT.

SOMETIMES, THEY HAVE TO TEACH THE BIRDS HOW AND WHERE TO FLY.

BEGINNING IN 2001, THE WHOOPING CRANE EASTERN PARTNERSHIP MADE THE BOLD MOVE TO ESTABLISH A NEW MIGRATORY FLOCK OF WHOOPING CRANES, BUT THESE CRANES HAD NO IDEA HOW TO GET FROM WISCONSIN TO FLORIDA.

>> YOUNG WHOOPING CRANES IN THE WILD WILL LEARN THEIR MIGRATION ROUTE BY FOLLOWING THEIR PARENTS SOUTH DURING THEIR FIRST FALL MIGRATION, SO, WITH THIS REINTRODUCTION, IT'S QUITE A BIT MORE CHALLENGING BECAUSE WE NEED TO SHOW THEM THAT MIGRATION ROUTE.

>> THE FACT THAT THE WISCONSIN TO FLORIDA FLOCK IS SEPARATE FROM THE ARANSAS WOOD BUFFALO POPULATION, HELPS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF DISEASE AND REDUCES THE CHANCE OF EXTINCTION DUE TO A SINGLE CATASTROPHIC EVENT.

THE NEWEST EFFORT TO REINTRODUCE THE WHOOPING CRANES INTO THEIR ANCESTRAL TERRITORIES ESTABLISHES A NON MIGRATORY FLOCK IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA.

THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES, UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE U.S.

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE IS THE PROGRAM'S LEAD STATE AGENCY.

>> THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR A LONG TIME.

BECAUSE LOUISIANA HAS A VERY LARGE AREA OF HIGH QUALITY HABITAT FOR CRANES.

AND WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE A NATIVE SPECIES THAT WAS LOST.

WITH THE REINTRODUCTION OF THE WHOOPING CRANE IN LOUISIANA, WE BECOME THE LATEST PARTNER IN A CONSORTIUM OF SCIENTISTS AND CONSERVATIONISTS ACROSS NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT, RESTORING CRANES.

>> ONE OF THE HURDLES THAT CONCERNED PLANNERS, WAS THE LEVEL OF COOPERATION FROM LANDOWNERS IN THE RELEASE AREA.

CHANCES WERE GOOD THAT THEY COULD BE HOSTING SOME OF THE BIRDS ON THEIR PROPERTY.

WITHOUT THEIR BUY-IN, THE PROJECT WAS DOOMED.

>> THEY WERE WORRIED BECAUSE THE CRANES WERE PROTECTED UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT, A LAW THAT, IN SOME CASES, RESTRICTED THE RIGHTS OF LANDOWNERS.

THE COALITION WAS ABLE TO AVOID THREE RESTRICTIONS BY HAVING THE LOUISIANA WHOOPING CRANE POPULATION DESIGNATED AS NON ESSENTIAL, EXPERIMENTAL, UNDER A CLAUSE IN THE LAW.

>> IT'S NON ESSENTIAL, IN THAT IF EVERYONE THAT WE PUT OUT HERE WERE TO DIE, IT WOULD NOT IMPACT THE WILD ARANSAS WOOD BUFFALO POPULATION IN ANY WAY.

>> THE EXPERIMENTAL LABEL GIVES RESEARCHER MORE CHOICES IN THE METHODS USED TO REESTABLISH THE POPULATION IN LOUISIANA.

>> AND SO THIS EXPERIMENTAL NON ESSENTIAL CLAUSE PROVIDES THE FLEXIBILITY TO ALLOW US TO RECOVER THESE SPECIES POPULATIONS, AND IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT THREATEN THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE LANDOWNERS AND THE PEOPLE WORKING ON THE LANDSCAPE.

>> ORGANIZERS ALSO GRAB HE WOULD WITH ANOTHER CHALLENGE, THE FUNDING.

>> THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PROJECT.

WE HAVE GOT A LOT OF CORPORATE SUPPORTERS AND A LOT OF INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTERS, THE FUNDING MODEL FOR THIS REINTRODUCTION, BASICALLY, IS A THIRD PRIVATELY RAISED DOLLARS, THAT WAS THE VALUE ADDED EFFECT TO GET IT APPROVED.

ALONG WITH ONE-THIRD FEDERAL AND ONE-THIRD STATE ROCKEFELLER DOLLARS.

YOU KNOW, ROCKEFELLER REFUGE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF RESTORING SPECIES, AMERICAN ALLIGATOR, BALD EAGLE, BROWN PELICAN, SO THIS IS THE NEXT SPECIES IN LINE, AND WE PUT THE STAFF STRUCTURE UNDER ROCKEFELLER FOR THAT REASON, FOR THE FUNDING AND FOR THE EXPERIENCE THAT THEY HAVE.

>> FOR THE REINTRODUCTION SITE, RESEARCHER SELECTED THE WHITE LAKE WETLANDS CONSERVATION AREA SOUTH OF GUEYDAN.

IN THESE REMOTE, BOUNTIFUL MARSHLANDS THE LAST OF LOUISIANA'S WHOOPING CRANES WERE SPOTTED 60 YEARS AGO.

PROTECTING THE NEW WHOOPERS WHEN THEY ARRIVE WAS A HIGH PRIORITY.

>> THE RELEASE PEN THAT WAS BUILT IS A PREDATOR PROOF PEN THAT CONSISTS OF TWO PARTS, A SMALLER COVERED PEN AND A LARGER OPEN PEN.

THE BIRDS ARE INITIALLY IN THE COVERED PART, AND ARE RELEASED TO THE OPEN PART.

THE WHOLE PROCESS IS MEANT TO BE A SOFT RELEASE, TO GIVE THEM TIME TO ADJUST TO THEIR NEW HABITAT.

THE PEN HAS ELECTRIC FENCING AROUND IT AND CAMERAS TO KEEP THE PEN A SAFE PLACE AND TO HELP US KEEP AN EYE ON THE BIRDS.

>> THE BIRDS WE RECEIVE ARE BORN THE SAME SPRING, THEY ARE SOCIALIZED TO EACH OTHER, AND THEY ARE ABOUT SIX MONTHS OLD WHEN WE RECEIVE THEM.

THIS GROUP OF BIRDS IS CALLED A COHORT, AND WE RELEASE THE NEW COHORT IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER OF EACH YEAR.

>> THE LATEST COHORT, OF 14 CRANES, TOUCHED DOWN IN NOVEMBER 2012, WITH WILDLIFE BIERLINGSES EAGERLY AWAITING THEIR ARRIVAL IN THE NEW WETLAND HOME.

THE BIRDS ARE EXAMINED CAREFULLY BEFORE BEING RELEASED INTO THE COVERED PEN.

ONE VERY LONG, VERY STRESSFUL DAY FOR THE YOUNG BIRDS, AND THEIR CARETAKERS.

>> THE YOUNG CRANES BEGIN TO EXPLORE THIS NEW MARSH LANDSCAPE FROM THE SHELTER OF THEIR PEN, AND THEY WILL REMAIN PROTECTED FOR A FEW WEEKS AND HOPEFULLY BECOME AWARE OF THE PREDATORS PRESENT IN THE MARSH.

THEY WILL ALSO TRANSITION TO A NEW, NATURAL DIET.

>> THE FOOD WE PROVIDE IN THE FEEDERS IS A PELLETED DIET ESPECIALLY FORMULATED FOR CRANES THAT HAVE BEEN EATING THIS EVER SINCE THEY WERE TINY.

IT'S SOMETHING THEY ARE USED TO, BUT THEY WILL FORAGE FOR NATURAL FOODS NOW THAT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY IN THE MARSH.

>> IN THEIR NEW HOME CARE TAKERS ARE IN COSTUME TO DELIVER FOOD.

INCLUDING A SWEET DELICACY WITH A SPECIAL PURPOSE.

>> THE CLICKS WERE EXPOSED TO GRAPES AS A TREAT WHEN THEY WERE LITTLE, AND THE MAIN REASON WE WANT THEM TO HAVE A TREAT THEY WILL EAT IS IF WE HAVE TO MEDICATE SOMEBODY.

>> CARETAKERS EXAMINE THE BIRDS CLOSELY FOR ANY PROBLEMS.

WITH SO MUCH AT STAKE, EVERY PRECAUTIONS IS TAKEN TO ENSURE THEIR SURVIVAL.

>> THERE WAS A BIRD HANGING BACK, AND WHEN I GOT HER TO SORT OF LIFT HER HEAD OFF THE BACK, I SAW THAT SHE HAD CRACKED HER BEAK.

SO I GAVE HER A COUPLE OF CRANBERRIES WITH A LITTLE MEDICINE IN THEM, AND IT WAS ONLY CRACKED BACK A CENTIMETER, SO IT SHOULD HEAL JUST FINE, BUT WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

>> LIKE PLANE VISITORS TO THIS REGION, THE CRANES ENJOY SAMPLING LOUISIANA'S INDIGENOUS CUISINE.

IT'S AN EXTENSIVE MENU TO BE FOUND IN THE FIELDS OF RICE AND CRAWFISH, AND AS WELL AS THE RICH MARSH LAND HABITAT.

>> ALL THE OUR BIRDS EAT ANYTHING, IN TERMS OF THE CRAWFISH AND, AND FISH AND, AND FROGS, AND IT'S THE SAME WAY THAT THE WHOOPING CRANES ARE, OPPORTUNISTIC BUT THEY ALSO EAT A LOT OF TUBERS, THE STARCHY PORTION OF THE PLANT ROOTS, AND THEY WILL EAT THE HEADS OFF OF THE PLANTS, AND THEY EAT CRAWFISH, AND CRABS, AND SO CRUSTACEANS APPEAR TO BE A BIG PART OF THE DIET.

>> YOU HAVE DIFFERENT PERSONALITY TYPES IN THESE BIRDS.

THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN OTHERS, AND WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO HERE WAS MAKE SURE THE MORE TIMID BIRD WAS ABLE TO GET A TASTE OF THE CRAWFISH, AND SO WHAT I HAD TO DO WAS BECOME THE DOMINANT IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION.

I HAD TO GET TALLER THAN THIS OTHER DOMINANT BIRD, AND YOU COULD SEE HIM SHRINKING BACK, BUT ULTIMATELY, THAT DOES NOT LAST VERY LONG BECAUSE THEN YOU END UP HAVING THE BIRD COMING BACK IN AND STEALING THE CRAWFISH YOU, ABOUT EVERYBODY GETS A CRAWFISH IN THE END.

>> THE JUVENILE CRANES ARE GROWING FAST, AND QUICKLY ACCLIMATE TO THEIR SURROUNDINGS.

BUT, ONE MORE PRECAUTIONS IS TAKEN BEFORE THEY COULD BE RELEASED FROM THEIR PROTECTIVE PEN.

>> EACH BIRD GETS A UNIQUE COLOR-CODED BAND COMBINATION, SO THAT WHEN THEY ARE IN THE LANDSCAPE, WE CAN IDENTIFY THEM FROM A DISTANCE, CHOOSING BINOCULARS.

WE CAN USE THESE COLOR COMBINATIONS TO, TO IDENTIFY THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

>> EVERY ONE OF OUR BIRDS GETS A SATELLITE TRANSMITTER THAT ENABLES US TO TRACK THAT BIRD OVER A LARGE SCALE, AND WE COLLECTED IT EVERY TWO OR THREE DAYS, LESS THAN HALF OF THE BIDS, ALSO, GET WHAT'S CALLED A VHF TRANSMITTER, AND THAT GIVES US REAL-TIME DATA.

>> NOW THE CRANES' PARENTS ARE ABLE TO KEEP CLOSE TABS ON THESE JUVENILES.

GOOD THING, THEY HAVE ALREADY SHOWN SIGNS THAT THEY ARE READY TO SPREAD THEIR WINGS.

BUT LIKE MANY TEENAGERS READY TO SHOW THEIR INDEPENDENCE, THEIR FIRST ATTEMPTS MAY LACK FINESSE.

>> SOMETIMES ON THEIR FIRST BIG FLIGHT, THEY MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT AWKWARD LOOKING IN THEIR STEERING OR IN THEIR LANDING.

THEY GET THE HANG OF IT REALLY QUICK.

BUT SOMETIMES, THEY ARE NOT QUITE AS GRACEFUL ON THE FIRST FLIGHTS.

>> ALTHOUGH THE YOUNG BIRDS ARE FREE TO COME AND GO, THEY WILL BE PROVIDED WITH SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD IN THE OPEN PEN FOR A FEW MORE WEEKS WHILE THEY ADJUST TO FORAGING FOR THEIR ENTIRE DIET.

>> ONCE THE FEEDING STOPS, AND DEPENDING ON THE WATER LEVELS AT THE PEN SITE, THE BIRDS WILL START DISPERSING FROM THE PEN ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA LANDSCAPE.

AND WE'VE HAD THE BIRDS GO AS FAR AS TEXAS BUT THEY HAVE COME BACK, AND THEY ARE, BASICALLY, JUST EXPLORING THE AREA, AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE AREAS THAT THEY CAN SETTLE IN.

ONCE THEY SETTLE, THEY STAY THERE FOR A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.

THAT'S THE BENEFIT OF THE GPS POINTS.

THEY ALLOW US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HABITATS THESE BIRDS ARE USING TO FORAGE OR TO ROOST, AND THEY ALSO ALLOW US TO UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS OF THE FLOCKING, THE SOCIAL GROUPS THAT ESTABLISH ONCE THEY ARE RELEASED FROM THE PEN SITE.

>> STAFFERS HAVE MIXED FEELINGS AS THE CRANES VENTURE OUT.

ALONG WITH THEIR FREEDOM, COME NEW DANGERS FOR THE BIRDS.

IN THEIR FIRST YEAR OF LIFE, WHOOPING CRANES FACE A 50% CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.

>> ONE WAY THAT THEY CAN ENHANCE THEIR ODDS OF SUCCESS IS BY USING THE ENVIRONMENT TO THEIR ADVANTAGE.

THE CRANES SPEND MUCH OF THEIR TIME IN SHALLOW WATER, ROOSTING IN THE WATER AT NIGHT ALLOWS THEM TO HEAR THE SOUND OF PREDATORS APPROACHING.

ANOTHER SURVIVAL STRATEGY IS SAFETY IN NUMBERS.

YOUNGER CRANES OFTEN TRAVEL IN SMALL GROUPS UNTIL THEY ARE READY TO FORM A PAIR BOND.

>> AS THE BIRDS BEGIN TO NEST, WE MOVE INTO WHAT WE CONSIDER PROBABLY THE MOST CRITICAL PHASE OF THE PROJECT, CAN THEY REPRODUCE SUCCESSFULLY.

THEY WILL BEGIN TO BREED AROUND THREE YEARS OF AGE.

TYPICALLY WHOOPING CRANES WILL LAY TWO EGGS, BUT ONLY, TYPICALLY ONLY ONE CHICK SURVIVES.

AND SO WHEN IT COMES TO, TO OUR RECOVERING OF A SPECIES LIKE THIS, EVERY BIRD IS, IS IMPORTANT.

>> A BREEDING PAIR WILL ESTABLISH A TERRITORY THAT MIGHT ENCOMPASS A MILE, AND WILL BUILD A FLOATING RAFT NEST THAT THEY WILL FIERCELY DEFEND.

>> THEY ARE VERY VOR RAISHES, NEST DEFENDERS AND WILL TAKE ON A RACOON OR A COYOTE OR WHATEVER TO, TO DEFEND THEIR TERRITORY.

>> ASIDE FROM NATURAL PREDATORS SUCH AS ALLIGATORS AND BOB CATS, THE CRANES ALSO FACE POSSIBLE INJURY AND ILLNESS.

BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST THREATS THEY FACE HERE IS MAN.

>> IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OUR REINTRODUCTION PROJECT TWO OF THE CRANES WERE SHOT BY A COUPLE OF TEENAGERS.

THANKS TO AN EYEWITNESS, HOWEVER, THESE BOYS WERE APPREHENDED AND BROUGHT TO JUDGMENT.

BUT THE INCIDENT WAS A TERRIBLE SETBACK FOR THE PROJECT, AND DEVASTATING TO THE MORALE OF THOSE OF US THAT HAD WORKED SO HARD TO GET THIS OFF THE GROUND.

AND NOW IN THE THIRD YEAR OF OUR PROJECT, ANOTHER CRAIN HAS BEEN FOUND DEAD OF A GUNSHOT.

IT'S FRUSTRATING AND DISCOURAGING, BUT WE'LL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO FIND THE GUILTY PARTY AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

>> I WAS GLAD TO SEE THAT THE PUBLIC WAS OUTRAGED.

THAT EVERYONE WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THIS.

AND THAT PEOPLE SAID, THIS IS JUST TOTALLY IGNORANT.

WE DON'T DO THESE KIND OF THINGS.

>> THE SENSELESS KILLING OF THESE WHOOPING CRANES REPRESENTS A TREMENDOUS LOSS, IN TERMS OF THE INVESTMENT IN TIME AND MONEY MADE BY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND GENEROUS DONORS.

IT ALSO CASTS ASIDE COUNTLESS HOURS OF CAREFUL WORK BY SCIENTISTS AND VOLUNTEERS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT SPEAKS TO THE NEED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT IS AT RISK OF BEING LOST, AND WHAT COULD BE GAINED.

MOST WILDLIFE IN LOUISIANA OCCURS ON PRIVATE LAND.

SO THE ROLE THAT THESE FARMERS PLAY IN PROTECTING THIS WILDLIFE RESOURCE IN THIS REGION OF THE STATE IS CRITICAL.

AND WE HAVE HAD TREMENDOUS RESPONSE.

WE'RE MONITORING LANDOWNER RESPONSES, AND IT'S BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE.

>> BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PROPERTY OWNERS WHO MAY HOST THE CRANES HELPS TO INSTILL AN APPRECIATION FOR THE BIRDS.

>> IT'S BEEN NICE HAVING THEM AROUND, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF -- YOU GO OUT IN THE MORNING AND YOU LOOK FOR THEM.

AND THEY, THEY ARE SUCH GRACEFUL BIRDS, YOU KNOW, AND JUST -- I ENJOY HAVING THEM ON THE FARM.

>> AND THEY WATCH OUT FOR THAT BIRD.

THEY CALL ME IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.

WE CANNOT BE OUT THERE ALL THE TIME.

SO IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE ABLE TO RELY ON SUCH AN OUTPOURING OF ACCEPTANCE AND EXCITEMENT FOR THE PROJECT.

>> ANOTHER KEY ELEMENT IS PUBLIC EDUCATION, BUT THAT ALSO TAKES RESOURCES.

>> IT WAS A BIG CHALLENGE TO TRY TO ELEVATE THE CULTURAL RESPECT FOR YOUR WILDLIFE RESOURCES IN THIS REGION OF THE STATE.

AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THAT.

>> BUT THANKS TO THE DEDICATED DONORS AND PRIVATE GRANTS, THERE ARE NEW TOOLS TO TEACH CHILDREN OF ALL AGES ABOUT THIS MAJESTIC BIRD.

>> WE DEVELOPED A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS FOR EDUCATORS, PRIMARILY FORMAL EDUCATORS, BUT ALSO INFORMAL EDUCATORS.

THE WHOOPING CRANE REINTRODUCTION PROGRAM IS SO NEW, AND WHOOPING CRANES HAVE NOT BEEN HERE, AS YOU KNOW, SO TEACHERS, CONSEQUENTLY, ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE SUBJECT MATTER, AND STUDENTS DO NOT KNOW AT ALL ABOUT THIS BIRD.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE PROVIDE THE TEACHERS IS A 5-FOOT TALL POSTER.

THE TEACHER IS ENCOURAGED TO LEAVE IT UP IN THE CLASSROOM, AND IT REMAINS THERE AS A CONVERSATION PIECE FOR THE STUDENTS.

>> TEACHERS ALSO HAVE NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO HELP SPARK THE INTEREST OF BUDDING SCIENTISTS, PUTTING GPS UNITS IN CLASSROOMS SO STUDENTS CAN LEARN HOW SCIENTISTS MONITOR THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE CRANES.

>> WE ALL KNOW THAT STUDENTS LOVE TECHNOLOGY, SO THIS IS AN EASY WAY TO THEIR HEART.

>> SUCCESS IN LOUISIANA'S REINTRODUCTION PROGRAM DEPENDS UPON PUBLIC SUPPORT, SOUND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, AND THE DEDICATION OF SCORES OF BIOLOGIST, CARETAKERS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

PROOF OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCCESS CAN BE FOUND A FEW HUNDRED MILES TO THE WEST IN ARANSAS, TEXAS.

THERE, AN ANNUAL FESTIVAL CELEBRATES THE INCREDIBLE COMEBACK OF THE WHOOPING CRANE FLOCK THAT DEFIED EXTINCTION.

>> WE CARRY 5,000 PEOPLE A YEAR ON THE BOAT, AND THEN WHARF CAT DOES ABOUT THE SAME.

SO, THE UNIQUE THING, AND THEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE NATURAL HISTORY AND OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, ALL OF THIS AREA, COUNTS ON BIRDERS.

THEY COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

>> OF THE THOUSANDS THAT VISIT THE TEXAS COAST, IT'S HARD TO TELL HOW MANY ARRIVE HOPING TO INTURNT THAT RARE AND EXQUISITE CREATURE WITH A VOICE OF THE WILD.

>> IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BIRD, AND PEOPLE LOVE LOOKING AT THEM AND, AND ADMIRING THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE RECOVERED, BUT THERE IS A BALANCE THERE, AND WE REMINDED PEOPLE THAT THESE ARE WILD CREATURES IN A WILD ENVIRONMENT, AND YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR DISTANCE AND BE QUIETER AROUND THEM, AND TRY NOT TO DISTURB THEM, AND TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT.

>> THE FUTURE OF LOUISIANA'S WHOOPING CRANES PLAY HINGE ON OUR CITIZENS WILLINGNESS TO TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT.

STAKEHOLDERS HOPE THAT THE CONTINUED OUTREACH EFFORTS AND EDUCATION WILL ENSURE ALL LOUISIANANS WILL COME TO VALUE THESE AMAZING CREATURES.

THEIR FUTURE, AT LEAST IN PART, IS IN OUR HANDS.

>> THIS IS AT LEAST A 20-YEAR PROJECT.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

WE INTEND TO STAY THE COURSE, AND WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

IF YOU EVER LOOK A CRAIN IN THE EYE AND SEE THEIR DETERMINATION AND VISUAL ACUTE AND WATCH THEIR BEHAVIOR, YOU KNOW THAT BIRD IS GOING TO UPHOLD ITS END OF THE BARGAIN.

>> FOR A COPY OF THIS PROGRAM CALL 1-800-973-7246.

OR GO ONLINE TO WWW.LPB.ORG.

THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES.

KEEPING OUR WILDLIFE RESOURCES HEALTHY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

WILDLIFE MATTERS.

AND BY THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.